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Feasibility of Cost Effective, Long Length, BSCCO 2212 Round Wires, for Very High Field Magnets, Beyond 12 Tesla at 4.2 Kelvin—Superconductive Components, Inc., 1145 Chesapeake Avenue, Columbus, OH  43212-2284; 614-486-0261, www.sciengineeredmaterials.com
Dr. Suvankar Sengupta, Principal Investigator, scottc@sciengineeredmaterial.com 
Mr. Daniel Rooney, Business Official, danr@sciengineeredmaterials.com 
DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-02ER83538
Amount:  $633,550  

Researchers continue to make progress toward the cost/performance goal for the metal oxide superconductors needed for high energy physics research.  This project will forward this progress through the synthesis and integration of sub-micron and even nano-ceramic powders, combined with the development and demonstration of advanced thermo-mechanical processing of the superconductor/silver composite.  In Phase I, BSCCO 2212 metal oxide superconductor powders were prepared with varying tap densities using a particle-size-modification technique.  Using these powders and new thermo-mechanical process techniques, metal oxide superconductor/silver composite wires were produced and tested at 4.2 Kelvin, yielding 316 amp/mm² at 12 Tesla.  In Phase II, the processes developed in Phase I will be scaled-up to produce prototype-scale metal oxide superconductor/silver composite wires in lengths up to 1 km.  In addition, process improvements designed to improve yield, reliability, and performance will be evaluated, and manufacturing feasibility will be assessed.  

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by awardee:  The product should result in very high field magnets for high energy physics research and may also have application to ceramic superconductors in the larger market of medical MRI.